Shaving mirror accessory



Nov. 18, 1969 J. c. GUNN 3,478,996

SHAVING MIRROR ACCESSORY Filed Jan. 5, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOH N C. GU N N Nov. 18, 1969 J. c. GUNN 3,478,996

SHAVING MIRROR ACCESSORY Filed Jan. 1968 2 Sheets -Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN C. GUNN ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,478,996 SHAVING MIRROR ACCESSORY John C. Gunn, Baton Rouge, La. (2616 E. Cavett, Shreveport, La. 71104) Filed Jan. 5, 1968, Ser. No. 695,921 Int. Cl. A47g 1/16; A47b 97/04 U.S. Cl. 248-473 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to a shaving accessory adapted to be used with a military helmet in field situations. More particularly, the invention comprises a mirror, mirror support and helmet base, all of which can be assembled into a unitary arrangement.

Description of the prior art Military personnel shaving under real or simulated battle conditions employ their steel helmets as water basins. Due to the round top of a helmet, it is poorly adapted for this particular use. A hole is dug or other supporting means are provided to prevent water spillage from the helmet when it is used for shaving purposes.

Coupled with the above problem is the fact that no mirror is available for use with the helmet Water basin. If there is a mirror, it must be propped against something or affixed to a tree or other support. No shaving accessory exists that solves these problems for the servicemen in the field.

The present invention provides an article of manufacture which overcomes these and related problems, as is more fully described and explained hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have invented a novel article of manufacture comprising, in combination, a mirror or reflective surface affixed to a support means, a means for affixing the mirror-support member to the rim of an inverted military helmet, and an open-top, box-like receptacle for supporting in a steady and fixed manner an inverted helmet.

More particularly, the invention comprises a shaving accessory having at least three component parts: (1) a helmet support member which comprises an open-top, box-like receptacle having a generally rectangular configuration, (2) a reflective surface on at least one side of a member that is engageable with and forms a cover for the box-like receptacle, the cover member having fastening means on the same side thereof as the reflecting surface, and (3) a reflector-cover support member engageable with the rim of an inverted military helmet, being of an H-like configuration having at least two spaced apart members, separated by and each connected to opposite ends of a bracing member, the opposite ends of the spaced apart members having grooves cut therein to receive said reflector-support and helmet rim, furnishing the user thereof with a reflective surface for shaving while the helmet is steadily supported by the helmet-support member.

3,478,996 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged, perspective view of the mirror support of the invention showing arrangement of bracing member and mounting grooves;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse, vertical view of the mirror support showing relative positions of mounting grooves;

FIGURE 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the article of the invention illustrating the relative arrangement of the parts thereof, including the cover-mirror, mirror support and helmet support-balancing member;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the article of the invention illustrating the manner in which the component parts thereof are arranged when in use;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of a portion of the helmet, mirror support and cover-mirror in at least one possible assembled arrangement when in use;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the cover-mirror;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of the cover-mirror taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of the cover-mirror taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the article of the invention, in assembled condition;

FIGURE 10 is a transverse, vertical view of the article of the invention in assembled condition taken along the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 11 is a transverse, vertical view of the article of the invention in assembled condition taken along the line 1111 of FIGURE 9.

In the drawings, the numeral 30 designates the mirror support of the invention, while numeral 27 designates the cover-mirror and the numeral 29 designates the helmet support member of the invention.

In describing the present invention, and referring to FIGURE 1, there isprovided the basic element for use of the invention in providing a helmet support 29 and mirror 27 for shaving in the field. The helmet mountable mirror support 30 comprises a unitary structure having two like ends 21 and 23 spaced apart by a bracing member 26, each end 21 and 23 having grooves 24 and 25 cut therein.

It has been found that the positioning of the grooves 24 and 25 is a critical factor in utilization of the mirror support on a military helmet. Most important, the face of groove 24, generally designated by the numeral 22 should be somewhat lower than the face designated generally by the numeral 23. Of course, the same relationship holds true for the end position 21. Groove 24 is preferably on about a 45 degree angle in relation to face 22. Groove 25 should run in a generally parallel relationship to the upper and lower faces of ends 21 and 23.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the relative width of the grooves 24 and 25 of the mirror support of FIGURE 1. These widths are represented by the letters A, B and C. Distance of widths A and C should preferably be about one-third the height of the mirror support member. Slightly larger or smaller widths are acceptable. The width represented by letter B is preferably about one-thirdlarger than width A. Again, slightly smaller or larger widths of B can be tolerated.

The partially exploded, schematic perspective view of FIGURE 3 illustrates the manner in which the invention may be arranged when not in use. The three parts of the invention comprise the helmet support 29, in which may be placed the mirror support 30, and to which may be firmly attached, and secured by snapping or 3 fastening means 31 and 32, a cover-mirror 27. When assembled, as indicated and shown in FIGURE 9, the invention is essentially water-tight and does not rattle, the mirror support 30 preferably being in touching rela tionship with both cover 27 and helmet support 29.

The helmet support 29 has an essentially square, open-top, box-like configuration with four sides and a bottom and can be assembled from individual pieces or be of unitary, molded construction. The helmet support 29 is preferably made by injection moulding techniques well known to the plastics art.

Referring to FIGURE 3, there is illustrated means by which the cover 27 and helmet support 29 may be securely fastened. There is provided on the cover 27 a snap 31 for engagement with the snap-recess 32 located in the helmet support 29.

Numeral 34 of FIGURE 3 refers to a ledge-like protrusion extending along wall 33 and partially over the inside of support 29. An engaging means 36, shown in FIGURES 8 and 11, fits under and is held by the protrusion 34. The arrangement is constructed to afford a disengageable, hinge-like relationship of cover 27 and support 29.

The manner in which the present invention may be used is shown in FIGURE 4, wherein a military helmet 35 rests firmly on support 29 and cover-mirror 27 is connected to the helmet 35 by the mirror support member 30.

The mirror 28 is afiixed to cover 27 by means of glue, paste, screw or any other suitable means. Since it is contemplated that the invention will receive relatively rough treatment, it is preferred that the mirror 28 be made of unbreakable glass or polished metal. In addition, as much of the bottom side of cover 27 as is possible should be covered with the mirror 28 to atford maximum reflective surface. To reduce glare off of the mirrors 28 surface, the mirror may be tinted or made from polarized glass. Other known glare reducing means are also acceptable.

FIGURE further illustrates the arrangement of helmet 35 with mirror support 30 holding cover-mirror 27. It has been found that the mirror support 30 may be mounted on the helmet 35 using either groove 24 or 25, of FIGURE 1, in engagement with the helmet 35. In addition, the mirror support 30 may be placed on either the front or rear of the helmet 35. By alternating the arrangements of grooves 24 and 25 with cover-mirror 27 and helmet 35, varying angles of presentation of the mirror 28 are possible to suit the user of the invention.

Cover-mirror 27 is more completely illustrated in FIGURE 6, and wherein there are provided on two opposed and opposite sides thereof, raised helmet-support 29 engaging members 36 and 36a. The engaging members 36 and 36a may be glued, pasted or otherwise aflixed to cover 27, or the entire cover assembly 27 may be of unitary, extruded construction.

The engaging members 36 and 36a will be referred to herein by the numeral 36, for convenience. In addition, the engaging member 36 may be viewed as comprising two elevations generally designated in FIGURE 7 by the numerals 37 and 37a. Inside elevation 37 is about twice the height of outside elevation 37a, and protrudes slightly beyond elevation 37a, as is shown better in FIGURE 8, at the end opposite snap 31.

FIGURE illustrates the hinge-like configuration of cover 27 and support 29 when support engaging means 36 is wedged under protrusion 34 of support wall 33. The hinge-like arrangement furnishes an essentially watertight fit of cover 27 when snap 31 is fully engaged when cover 27 is in place, as is shown in FIGURE 9.

Support engaging means 36 and 36a are shown in engaging relationship with the support 29 when cover 27 is in place as illustrated in FIGURE 9.

There are no critical requirements for composition of the materials used in the invention. Consideration should be made of the areas in which it is to be used, required durability under hard and constant use and climatic conditions. Except for the mirror, plastics, for example, polystyrene, are generally acceptable for use in the article. However, it may be constructed from steel, aluminum, and/ or any suitable metal alloy.

If plastics are used, they should preferably be resistant to impact, stress-crack and puncture. No criticality is seen in choice of materials, so long as the article maintains the integrity of interconnecting parts when used in its foreseeable environment.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A military shaving accessory comprising, in combination, a helmet support member comprising an opentop, box-like receptacle having a generally rectangular configuration; a cover member that is engageable with and forms a cover for said receptacle, having reflecting means on at least one side thereof; and, a reflector-cover support member engageable with the rim of a military helmet which is adapted to receive and support in a generally upright position said refiector cover member when the helmet is being supported upon said box-like receptacle.

2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said reflectorcover support member has a generally H-like configuration having at least two spaced apart members, separated by and each connected to opposite ends of a bracing member, the opposite ends of the spaced apart members having grooves therein to receive said reflector-cover and helmet rim.

3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said reflectorcover has fastening means located on the same side thereof as the reflective surface and which is engageable with fastening receiver means located on the boxlike receptacle whereby the cover and receptacle fasten together to furnish a closed, fastened unitary structure.

4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said cover, receptacle and reflector support member are each made of a plastic material.

5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said cover, receptacle and reflector-cover support member are each made of a metal.

6. The accessory of claim 5, wherein said metal is aluminum.

7. The accessory of claim 4, wherein said plastic material is polystyrene.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 736,655 8/1903 Wheatley 312-227 X 1,745,548 2/ 1930 Lerner 248-226 X 2,346,919 4/1944 Hillenbrand 312227 X 3,251,637 5/1966 Parsons 3l2-227 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

